The inflation rate in 38 OECD countries reached 4.1% in June, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Wednesday.
This is the highest rate since 1997, when inflation within the "rich countries club" rose to 4.5%.
This inflationary surge is linked to cyclical effects, in particular the recovery of economies after the shock of the coronavirus, the rise in energy prices - they increased by 17.4% over one year - or even shortages on the energy chains. production.
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The rise in prices in OECD countries is led by the United States, where it continues to climb and reached 5.4% in June.
The euro zone is relatively spared: inflation has even fallen slightly since May, going from 2% to 1.8%.
In France, it stands at 1.5%.
In Germany, where the subject is historically sensitive, inflation worries: it stands at 2.3%.
Slightly down compared to May, but still above the European Central Bank's (ECB) target, set at 2%.
However, the central bank declared in July that a
“temporary”
exceeding
of the 2% threshold would be tolerated.
In a country where monetary stability is almost an obsession, economists fear it will impoverish savers.
Sustainable inflation?
Should we be worried about it? It all depends on whether this rise in prices is the signal of a prolonged period of inflation or whether it is a momentary surge, linked to the recovery of the economy. Sustained inflation could make financial markets fear that central banks will raise interest rates. But the ECB and many experts lean instead for the second option and consider this inflation temporary.